Meta Appeals Verdict in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case

Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has appealed the verdict in a significant social media addiction lawsuit in Los Angeles. The challenge pertains to the jury’s decision that the company designed its platforms to attract young users without considering their well-being.

Lawyers for Meta filed an appeal notice on Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. They will submit their arguments in upcoming court documents. The lawsuit involved a 20-year-old woman who claimed her childhood addiction to social media exacerbated her mental health issues. The jury found that negligence by Meta and Google-owned YouTube, another defendant, contributed significantly to the harm experienced by the woman, identified as KGM or Kaley.

The jury awarded Kaley $3 million in damages, with an additional $3 million suggested in punitive damages. Her lead attorney, Mark Lanier, stated that they expect the appellate court to uphold the trial court’s verdict.

A notice of appeal begins a potentially lengthy process.

A Meta spokesperson reiterated a Friday statement, originally given when the jury’s verdict was delivered in March, highlighting the complexity of teen mental health and denying it can be attributed to a single application. José Castañeda, a spokesperson for Google, mentioned YouTube’s intention to appeal and referred to these as procedural steps for the case to proceed.

Both Meta and Google had previously filed motions to overturn the jury’s decision and for a new trial. However, Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl denied these motions in June.

Under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, tech companies are not liable for content uploaded by third parties. To bypass these legal protections, plaintiffs focused on platform design features like ‘infinite scroll’ and autoplay functions. These aspects led to numerous objections from the defense during the five-week trial.

The verdict coincides with ongoing legal challenges for Meta. A New Mexico jury recently ruled that Meta’s platforms harm children’s mental health and safety, resulting in a $375 million fine. Meta has expressed its disagreement and intends to appeal this verdict as well.

A Meta spokesperson affirmed the company’s dedication to defending itself while maintaining confidence in its record of safeguarding teenagers online. Kaley’s lawsuit is the first of its kind, potentially affecting thousands of similar claims against social media companies accused of causing intentional harm.

Snapchat’s parent company, Snap Inc., and TikTok, initially listed as defendants in the case, settled for undisclosed amounts before the trial commenced.